Maharashtra Government Partners with Educate Girls to Bring Dropout Students Back to Classrooms

The Maharashtra government has partnered with the non-profit Educate Girls to help school dropouts, especially girls, re-enter the education system through open schooling and community-based support programmes.

Mumbai | March 16, 2026: In a significant step toward addressing school dropout rates, the Maharashtra government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the non-profit organisation Educate Girls to bring out-of-school children, particularly girls, back into the education system.

The collaboration aims to strengthen the state’s open schooling framework and provide second-chance learning opportunities for students who have left formal education due to social, economic or personal challenges. Through this partnership, the government intends to identify dropout students and facilitate their return to education through structured academic pathways.

Officials said the initiative will primarily focus on reconnecting girls who discontinued schooling at various stages. Many young students leave school because of financial hardship, household responsibilities, migration, or social barriers. By working closely with communities and local volunteers, the programme aims to locate such students and help them resume their education.

Under the initiative, students will be guided to continue their studies through the state’s open schooling system, which allows flexible learning opportunities outside traditional classroom structures. This approach is expected to benefit students who are unable to attend regular schools due to personal or family circumstances.

The programme will also provide academic support, study materials and mentorship to ensure that returning students are able to complete their education successfully. Officials believe that strengthening open schooling will create a sustainable pathway for learners who had previously dropped out of the formal education system.

Educate Girls, the partner organisation in the initiative, has been working for years to improve access to education for girls from disadvantaged communities. Founded in 2007, the organisation focuses on mobilising communities, identifying out-of-school children and ensuring that girls are enrolled in schools and remain in the education system.

The NGO has previously implemented similar programmes in several states, reaching thousands of villages and helping large numbers of girls return to classrooms. Its model relies on community engagement, volunteer networks and partnerships with government institutions to address barriers to education.

Education experts say such collaborations between governments and civil society organisations are crucial in tackling dropout rates, particularly at the secondary level. Reports have indicated that dropout levels remain a concern in parts of Maharashtra, especially among students from economically weaker backgrounds.

By combining the state’s education infrastructure with the outreach capabilities of Educate Girls, authorities hope the programme will improve enrolment and retention rates among vulnerable groups. The initiative is also expected to strengthen efforts toward gender equality in education and ensure that more girls are able to complete their schooling.

Officials involved in the programme said the partnership reflects a broader commitment by the state to make education more inclusive and accessible. The government believes that providing flexible learning options and targeted support can help bridge the gap for students who were previously left behind.

As the programme rolls out across the state, education authorities will monitor its progress and evaluate its impact on enrolment and retention levels among out-of-school children.

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